Training Update: Week #8

Eight weeks, baby. Let’s get to it. PS: that opening picture is symbolic of my burning sore muscles, our weekend dedicated to all things chore-related, and the hope that some day I might actually burn calories (instead of making up for the running by shoving my face full of carbs).

Week #8’s Workouts

-Monday: ran 3 miles on the treadmill in the early morning. Super ugh on this one. Just painful all around. I was still quite sore from the five mile run on Saturday plus to be honest, I had a bad attitude. Like, really bad. So yeah, not my finest moment or run.

-Tuesday: did an online circuit workout (a free outline from PopSugar). It was a good, quick workout – nothing fancy, just simple and sweaty.

-Wednesday: was supposed to run 3 miles this day but opted for an hour walk with a friend (and our two double strollers) in the a.m. and scrapped running for that day.

-Thursday: had a busy day that eliminated running until that night. I’ve lamented about running in the evenings before (would so much rather get it done early in the day) but I knew it had to be then or never since I had a 4 mile run on Saturday so I took off after my kids went to bed and Brian was home and busted through a pretty fast 3 miles (ha! very relative description for people that actually run fast). I remembered to turn on the Garmin this time and tried a 9-minute mile to start which ended up with me not being able to breathe (and a side ache so bad I thought I was going to pass out) so I had to stop and stretch before slowing down a little (ok, a lot). So much for thinking I could run fast(er). I’m realizing more and more that time is not what I’m in it for. But a girl’s gotta try a couple times to show herself she’s younger than her 37 years, you know?

-Friday: rest day. Should have probably fit in another cross-training or yoga workout. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. Story of my life.

-Saturday: this was a 4 mile run day. I offhandedly asked my kids if anyone wanted to come with me. We had already planned for Saturday to be a pretty extreme family working day (tons of outside chores) since it’s our only free Saturday for the next two months thanks to soccer and wrestling. So I knew it would be an early morning run. My 9-year old, Walker, said “sure mom, I’ll go.” I had a little bit of sore throat and wasn’t feeling 100% on my a-game so inside I was like, “that’s fine – not like I’ll care if he slows me down since I’m kind of low on energy anyway.” Um, yeah. Famous last words. This kid. He totally outran me. The farthest he’s gone running with Brian to train for their 10K is three miles and he didn’t stop once on our run together (except for a too short for my liking water break at about mile 2.5). I would throw out things like, “Walk, you sure you don’t want to slow down a bit?” You know, for him, not me. (Riiiiight.) And he was all, “Mom, come on, we can do this. We’ve got this.” We ended up going five miles and he never quit (neither did I for that matter since, dude, how could I stop when my 9-year old was killing it?). Looks like I found me a running partner. What a little rock star.

The rest of the day was spent doing outside chores with the family until about 4 p.m. I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t thrilled about having to move after a five mile run but in the end, I think it helped keep the muscles all loose and limber and whatever they needed to not seize up on me (although at one point crouched in the rocks weeding, I almost couldn’t stand up but that’s just between you and me since my oblivious boys didn’t notice their old, hobbling mother since they were too busy throwing dirt clods at each other). We all pitched in and worked like crazy together so we could do a fun family activity later that night.

Little Notes + Thanks

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: thanks to all of you who check these training updates and chime in with your advice, support, comments, own experiences. I really don’t expect it especially since this is really just a great, albeit public, journal for me so I can look back and see my running progress. I was commenting to Brian this week that I feel like I have a whole community to rely on and it means so much to me, especially since this hasn’t been a super duper I’m a runner and I love it easy journey for me. It’s hard and challenging and painful (with some milestone moments thrown in there) and I’m just grateful for all of you, that’s all. Thanks for letting me overshare at times and let you in to this non-food part of life right now.

Also, thanks for several of the recommendations of late – notably the google maps for planning routes (dude, where’s that been all my life), the mapmyrun app and online tool (I’ve actually had this a while but Melanie B in the comments last week mentioned it talks in her little ear while running alerting the completion of another! mile and it kind of made me giddy with happiness to hear that same little coaching voice while running Thursday night) and for the Gentle Leader collar idea for our pup, Mags (thanks, Colleen!).

Finally, sorry that I didn’t post a cool running story last week from those that have been submitted. Time got away from me (I feel like I’m barely keeping up as is) but I promise to post a couple this week since I’ve loved receiving them. Stay tuned!

Coming Up

-Running 4 miles Monday, 4 miles Wednesday, and 5 miles on Saturday and hoping to do all of those in the early mornings (it’s spring break this week and while we aren’t traveling anywhere, I’d like to have the runs over with so the rest of the day can be spent being productive with the kids – think: jobs and fun and some afternoon baking together).

-Would like to try for more stretching/flexibility this week. It didn’t happen as much as I would have liked last week and I can feel my muscles are tighter than they have been. I would like to prevent/prolong injury as much as possible so looks like I’ll be reading books to my kids while sitting in various yoga and stretching poses. Cause that’s not weird at all.

19 comments on “Training Update: Week #8”

Here’s a tip for side cramps: when you feel a side cramp coming or you already have them, change your breathing pattern so that you are INHALING on the SAME SIDE as your cramp. It means you have to be more aware of your breathing and it might throw you off a bit, but it works for me every time.

I’m living vicariously through you since I’m pregnant and gave up after I ran a half marathon at 5 weeks prego…I’ve done absolutely nothing since! I have always loved the mapmyrunapp and it helped me a lot when I changed it to notify me every 1/4 mile. I need to hear that lady’s voice a lot to keep motivated.

Yay for you and Walker!! That is awesome! Where do kids find all their energy?? Yes, sounds like you’ve got a pretty awesome running buddy! Maybe he should be doing the half instead of the 10!? 🙂 Keep up the great work!

Wow! Go Walker! That is so awesome on many levels . . . great that he can do it, great that you have someone to go with, and oh-so-motivational all around. I always end up having days when I just DON’T want to run. But, like you, I usually do it anyways and I’m always glad that I do because it keeps me up on my training schedule. Those are always the hardest runs, but they also seem to build my endurance the best. Plus, there’s something to say about serious dedication and the drive to do something even when you don’t want to or when it’s hard. You are seriously rockin’ it! I seriously thought (don’t ask me what planet I live on sometimes) that I would have my newborn sleeping through the night by 2 months. Ha! It’s just not happening, but I’ve got to get running if I’m ever going to make my half marathon. So, as of late . . . it seems like most of my runs require a lot of talkin’ into as I sleepily make my way to the treadmill or the road. Lol. That said . . . in the end, it feels good to be running again. P.S. Love MapMyRun app. I use that or my Garmin on all my runs.

Way to go Mel! So impressed with your goal to start running! Let’s be honest, running is hard. Not to mention a little on the boring side…. :/ (how’s that for motivation!?) But as a fairly new runner myself, there is nothing makes me feel more better about myself and my accomplishments than turning that corner back up the street to my house. There’s a big sense of pride, and the best part is it’s totally in your control… good or bad! Keep up the good work, I’m excited to keep checking in on ya! As of now I’m planning on a half in May, and possibly a full in September! Yikes! We’re awesome, go us!

You go!!! You are doing amazing! And what I love most about these updates are how REAL they are…this is exactly how I am feeling, overwhelmed, busy and sore, lol! My biggest piece of advice is to foam roll and stretch/yoga. I know that is why I have the injury in my leg and can’t run more than 5 miles. It will take awhile to remedy, but at least I can still run. 🙂

You’re amazing and so is your little guy Walker! Keep it up! You are a motivation to me. I just picked up running this year to try to get healthy and keep up with my own crew of four little boys. Thanks for the updates!

I can’t believe you ran the whole 5 miles, that is AWESOME! My long runs so far have always been interspersed with some walking. Unfortunately I have to say I think I might be out for this half marathon. My goal for last Saturday was 8 miles and I didn’t get to it so I did it Tuesday instead. About mile 6 my foot started hurting but I just figured it was because you know, it was mile 6. And I didn’t want to give up when I had gone that far so I finished the 8. My foot hurt the rest of the day, but hey 8 miles! I wasn’t too surprised. Well, the next day I couldn’t even walk, I couldn’t put any weight on it so I just took it easy hoping it would be better the next day. The next day was a bit better, I could walk, sort of. Anyway, it still hurts quite a bit, enough so that I haven’t done more than the bare minimum of what I have to around the house and no workouts of any sort

Uh, not sure why the rest of my comment didn’t post. Must have figured I had said enough. 🙂 Anyway, basically said I’m going to get it checked out today. Really hope it’s not serious! NEVER would have thought I could actually go 8 miles, let alone enjoy doing it. Plus, I was really looking forward to meeting you in June!

Oh, Jackie, I’m SO sorry to hear that you hurt your foot. Will you keep me posted on what the doctor says?? I am in awe of your eight miles – way to go on that one! But such a bummer it came with an injury to your foot. Hang in there and let me know what happens! We’ll meet up regardless of whether you can get there in June – promise!

Running has become a favorite for me. I love it and it is so fun to do especially with friends. One thing i will suggest is to listen to your body and to not go overboard. I did and ended up with a stress fracture that was on the verge of a complete femur fracture. I would run through the pain and just kept on with speed drills and running hills. I finally got it checked and the doctor told me if i ran on it anymore it was going to break. Stretch out and use a foam roller they work great. Keep hydrated while you run, especially your long runs. I ended up having troubles because i didn’t drink enough and almost passes out while running a marathon. It is okay to stop and drink. Have fun, run with people it makes the long runs a lot more fun. I have found myself doing a lot of thinking and pondering while i run. It is me time, i also have all boys, 4 to be exact and i love to be able to run around with them and being able to keep up with them especially my 14 year old. That is great you took your son running, i have had some good talks with my 14 year old while we ran together. If you can’t carry on a conversation you are running to fast. Don’t worry about time just enjoy it and have fun. Thanks for all your posts. Your awesome